Artist Of The Week #128 - Winter
This week’s Artist of the Week is LA-via-Brazil dream pop wonder artist Winter - who has just released her full length album ‘Endless Space (Between You & I’ via Bar/None. The album sees her taking us into her fairy tale of world filled surrealism and mystical shoegaze. She took a moment to talk to us about growing up in Brazil and how the new album came together.
Hey there, how are you? The album is finally out in the world - how does it feel?
Feels like pure bliss! Can’t wait!
It is titled ‘ Endless Space’ - is there a certain meaning behind that?
The title came from the track which was one of the first that me and Ian Gibbs recorded and it really set the tone - that effervescent ecstasy of solitude tone that this album contains. Releasing the album during Corona gives the title a whole new context; the endless space we face between each other.
Listening to the album, it feels like you are letting us into your own unique world - what are the key themes and inspirations in it?
Yes definitely. It’s a very intimate and ghostly record paired with whimsical others worldly sounds. I would say some of the key themes are nature, dreams and the subconscious, and time travel.
You grew up in Curitiba, which is in Brazil - your mother filled your home with gentle melodies of MPB - música popular brasileira - can you explain that to us?
My mom is an artist at heart. She loved playing guitar and singing to us. We listened to a lot of MPB which is a genre of Brazilian music that is post- bossa nova. My singing approach was very much influenced by listening to Gal Costa and Rita Lee.
Your father on the other hand introduced you to lots of American Punk - what sort of bands did he play to you?
He would play Dead Kennedy’s, Crass, The Cramps, Iggy Pop...
At the age of eighteen you moved to the US - what led to that choice?
College! It was always in the plan and I moved to Boston to study journalism.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
”In the star vibration, my imagination, I’m the pure magician of my mind”That lyric is from the last track “Pure Magician” and it just feels empowering - like you’re imagination can allow you to do anything.
Now it is out in the world - what is next for you?
Make another record! Haha Well at some point maybe shows? But for now during the quarantine I’m mainly focusing on educating myself on the topics of racism and sexism as well as maintaining a practice of playing music and reading and resting.